MBA ZoNe - B-School Blogger

A Shrewd Undergraduate's Guide to HBS Admissions

By PRATEEK KUMAR
Crimson Staff Writer

"1. Try to have a high GPA and do not fall for the canard that the admissions committee is aware of hard courses, and will give you a break. They are aware of A, B, and C. They have no idea if Post-Modern Feminist Approaches to Derivative Trading is a hard course or a gut. Take a lot of guts, and use the extra time to explore extra activities. Do not innocently engage in learning for 'learning sake' --although certainly say you do. Do not take introductory Arabic or Chinese because they sound contemporary and important, especially when most kids in those classes will be native speakers looking for guts. Do not take some super-duper math course because it sounds 'interesting.'..."
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Source: The Harvard Crimson

And the Most Important Part Is...

by Stacy Blackman
Stacy Blackman Consulting

The most important part of the application: is it the GMAT, school transcripts, essays, interview, recs, resume…or something else completely? Ask most admissions committee members and they will tell you - it’s the sum of many parts - there is no one “most important” piece. I have heard it said that the most important part is your weakest part - in other words - everything matters. And that one weakness could throw your carefully prepared application off completely.

For Example...

by Stacy Blackman
Stacy Blackman Consulting

Everyone knows, in theory, that you need to fill your applications with colorful and interesting examples. But if everyone knows, why is the number one comment I make upon reading essays and letters of recommendation and conducting mock interviews - “Where are the examples?”

An essay that claims that you are a great leader, innovator or team player may sound interesting. But it also sounds like you read the “how to get into b-school” book. Unless you can back up all of these claims, they are just empty claims. The best way to convey your excellence is not through stating it, but through proving it with examples.

Many of my clients start out thinking that they have not done anything that will really stand out. They have read friends’ essays and do not think that they have material that is nearly as impressive. However, as we discuss their background, we inevitably find interesting examples. Last year, one of my clients was stumped. He needed a good story for HBS question 1: “Describe a significant change that you brought about in an organization and its impact on your development as a leader. ” The example that we came up with was about revamping a monthly report at work. Not exactly a “save the world” kind of example. However, once written, it showed initiative, a desire to challenge the status quo and an ability to execute and infuence others. He also was able to articulate very specifically how it impacted the organization and helped him grow personally. Result - he is going to HBS this year.

So, as you brainstorm examples for this year’s apps, remember that even a simple example can be extremely effective. And without an example, it is almost worth not making a claim.

Please note that these are general recommendations and do not apply to every case. You can discuss your personal situation in more depth with your individual consultant.


© 2001-2005 Stacy Blackman Consulting. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with Permission by MBA ZoNe

Weak Examples of Weakness

by Stacy Blackman
Stacy Blackman Consulting

Many schools will ask you or your recommenders, or both, to discuss weaknesses or areas for improvement. This can be difficult because you are walking the fine line between being honest and exposing too much. Here, as in the rest of the application, honest introspection can lead to the best answers. There are as many valid weaknesses and developmental needs as there are people. However, there are some approaches that are overused and ineffective, and just don’t work. The following summarizes the top four “bad ways to address the weakness question.”:

1) A weakness that is really a strength: “I am a perfectionist who works too hard to get everything right.”
2) A weakness that you have already addressed: “Jason was a poor public speaker, but after discussing this with him, he joined a public speaking club, read several books on the subject, and worked hard to improve. Since then, he has become one of the strongest speakers in the company”.
3) A claim that you have no weaknesses.
4) A weakness that will be cured with an MBA: “My biggest weakness is my need for formal finance training. An MBA from Stanford will definitely resolve this issue.”

While claiming that the weakness is cured does not answer the question effectively, showing that you are aware of it and working to address it is fair. Returning to the public speaing example above: “Jason’s public speaking skills can be improved upon. He and I discussed this a couple of months ago and I was impressed that his response was to join a public speaking club. He is now President of the Club and his skills are steadily improving.”

This is one of the most difficult questions to answer because of a fear of being too honest, but true self awareness is critical to success in MBA admissions. Trying to come off as perfect may actually be a window to your greatest flaw.

Please note that these are general recommendations and do not apply to every case. You can discuss your personal situation in more depth with your individual consultant.


© 2001-2005 Stacy Blackman Consulting. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with Permission by MBA ZoNe

Which Round?

by Stacy Blackman
Stacy Blackman Consulting

Round 1 or Round 2 - that is the question…
There is definitely a frenzy around trying to submit applications in round 1. So much so that you might wonder what the other rounds are for. If everyone needs to submit applications in round 1, who exactly is being admitted in round 2? The answer: a lot of people are admitted in round 2, and if your application is not ready this October, you should not be afraid to slide to round 2.

All things being equal, round 1 may be a bit of a smarter strategy. At the beginning of round 1, all of the seats in the class are available. At the beginning of round 2, a bunch of seats have already been given away, and you are also competing with those on the waitlist. But then of course, there are those who say that all of the top candidates are applying in round 1 - and you are up against the toughest competition. So then, maybe it is best to apply round 2. Hmmm…this is confusing…

The truth is that the admissions committees know what they are looking for. They have become pretty good at estimating numbers, and evaluating and accepting applicants that fit their criteria. The best strategy is not to play the game of which round, but to submit your application as soon as, but not until, it is ready. Earlier today, I spoke with a client who believes she can raise her GMAT from 650 to 700, but it will mean waiting until round 2 to submit applications. My advice? Go for the 700 in round 2. Always make sure all aspects of your application are the strongest they can possibly be, and then submit. Never sacrifice quality just to get in to round 1.

And with all of that said…I would never recommend round 3. But that is a topic for another day.

Please note that these are general recommendations and do not apply to every case. You can discuss your personal situation in more depth with your individual consultant.


© 2001-2005 Stacy Blackman Consulting. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with Permission by MBA ZoNe

What Are My Chances?

by Stacy Blackman
Stacy Blackman Consulting

I receive emails and phone calls like this every day: “2.9 GPA, 680 GMAT, 4 years work experience in consulting, promoted twice, good extra-curriculars - what are my chances?”

It’s a question that is virtually impossible to answer. The description above has a bunch of stats, but top business schools do not admit you based purely on your statistics. They really don’t. Even if you have a 4.0 and an 800, I could not tell you that you have a “great chance of getting into HBS.” And if you have a 2.4, you still have a chance at a top school.

This is because the top schools want to know who you are - and statistics and a resume don’t tell them that. It’s the essays, interviews and recommendations that will reveal who you are - this is where you can address weaknesses in the statistics and where you should spend a lot of energy throughout the application process.

You should know that most applicants to the top schools are “qualified”. That is, they would be able to handle the curriculum and benefit from the program. To be admitted, you need to demonstrate that you are more than merely qualified. It’s the story that you put together about your goals, your passions, your prior experience and how business school fits into the mix that will make the difference for you. Once that story is assembled I can better answer the question - “What are my chances?”

Please note that these are general recommendations and do not apply to every case. You can discuss your personal situation in more depth with your individual consultant.


© 2001-2005 Stacy Blackman Consulting. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with Permission by MBA ZoNe

Managing Your Recommenders

by Stacy Blackman
Stacy Blackman Consulting

I just hung up the phone with a new client who believes poor recommendations were a key reason she was not admitted last year. She carefully selected her recommenders and gave them several months advance notice. Her first recommender gave her a copy of his letter after submitting it. It was six pages long, written with care…and all wrong. He emphasized the wrong qualities, rambled like crazy and did not provide relevant examples. Unfortuantely, this is not uncommon - and it’s the reason why managing your recommenders is as important as selecting the right ones.

The goal of managing your recommenders is to make it as easy as possible for them to write a glowing letter. The following process will also help you with your own essays, so it is a valuable exercise in and of itself.

1) Decide on 4-5 key characteristics that you would like your recommender to emphasize throughout the letter. Examples: leadership, teamwork, creative thinking, determination, focus, intelligence, charisma, integrity.

2) Come up with at least one concrete example that you feel illustrates each characteristic. Example: “Initiative – Last year, when I learned that international sales were declining, I took it upon myself to research the competitive landscape and learned of two recent market entrants. I then offered to lead a team to analyze these new competitors and develop a strategy for regaining our market share. Our team of five analysts proposed a solution after one week of work. The solution was implemented and within six months, we gained back 5% of lost market share.”

3) Create a bullet pointed list of all of the projects that you have worked on, in more detail than your resume. You want your recommender to actually read this document, so try to keep it to one page, and do not overload them with information. It should be a helpful, quick reference.

Invite your recommender to lunch and walk him or her through these materials. You should also provide a copy of your resume and discuss your goals. Don’t leave it to your recommender to remember everything that you have done and don’t leave this process to chance. Your recommenders will appreciate your assistance and thoroughness and will produce a better recommendation on your behalf.

Please note that these are general recommendations and do not apply to every case. You can discuss your personal situation in more depth with your individual consultant.


© 2001-2005 Stacy Blackman Consulting. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with Permission by MBA ZoNe

Turning Weakness Into Strength

by Stacy Blackman
Stacy Blackman Consulting

One of the most dreaded questions asked by business schools is, “Tell us about a time you failed.” It can feel like a double edged sword: you have to come up with an honest answer, but you are afraid to reveal too much. You have just expended a ton of energy trying to prove you are fantastic and now you need to reveal a failure. My advice here: be as brutally honest as possible about your failures. By being honest about how you failed, you are actually revealing a strength: self awareness. Self awareness is key to growth and success, and to being admitted to business school.

Last year, I had a client who was laid off three times throughout his four year career. He was terrified of revealing this to the admissions committees. However, when he finally did tell the truth, he also demonstrated self awareness, an ability to learn from his mistakes and the mistakes of others, maturity, resilience, determination, and a whole host of qualities that business schools are looking for.

Honest introspection allows the admissions committee to get to know you. Discussing failures with honesty and maturity is the key to turning weakness into strength.

Please note that these are general recommendations and do not apply to every case. You can discuss your personal situation in more depth with your individual consultant.


© 2001-2005 Stacy Blackman Consulting. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with Permission by MBA ZoNe

Be Part of the Solution

by Stacy Blackman
Stacy Blackman Consulting

One key to business school admissions success is understanding that you are marketing yourself to a school just as a product is marketed to a consumer in the grocery store. The school is your target market. By understanding the school’s “needs”, you can successfully position yourself as part of the solution. For example, consider Columbia Business School. Located in the heart of NYC, and well known for its finance curriculum, you can imagine that they receive many applications from individuals wanting to launch a career in finance. Columbia, however, is also interested in being known as a top general management program. Columbia is looking for well rounded leaders, entrepreneurs, managers, marketers, innovators and more. As you submit your Columbia application, think hard about what they may need and try to become part of the solution.

This is true for all schools: in order to be successful, you need to step away from your needs. Think about the school’s goals and needs and how you can contribute to fulfilling those needs. When you finish telling the admissions committee why you want to attend and what they can do for you, don’t forget to show them what you can do for them as well.

Please note that these are general recommendations and do not apply to every case. You can discuss your personal situation in more depth with your individual consultant.


© 2001-2005 Stacy Blackman Consulting. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with Permission by MBA ZoNe

The School Visit

by Stacy Blackman
Stacy Blackman Consulting

I frequently am asked whether or not to visit target schools. A visit is certainly not necessary and most schools will tell you that it has no impact on your application. However, if it is financially feasible and fits into your schedule, I always recommend a visit. This is for several reasons:

1) A visit can help you decide where to apply. Many applicants look at the business school rankings and make decisions on where to apply. However, walking across a campus, sitting in on a class and interacting with students can greatly influence your decisions.

2) When you visit the school, you develop a better understanding of the school’s culture. This is sure to come through in your essays and interview. While others will be referencing the school website, you can site specific first-hand experiences. When you visit, you will meet people and have specific experiences that you can highlight throughout your essays and interview. This adds color and individuality to your application.

3) Although schools understand that many people cannot make a visit, it definitely shows a strong interest in and commitment to a program when you make the effort to visit. This is particularly true if you are traveling a long distance.

4) Occasionally, on a school visit you can hit the jackpot and meet with a member of the admissions committee or other influential person and really impress them!

5) If you are fortunate enough to be admitted to several top schools, a visit often can help you decide where to attend.

If you do decide to visit, you should call the admissions office ahead of time and ask them about the following opportunities:

1) Can you sit in on a class?
2) Can you go on a tour of the school?
3) Are other types of information sessions available?
4) Can you interview on campus?

Thus, you are making it known that you are visiting and doing your best to take full advantage of this experience. Dropping in unexpectedly is discouraged because you will not be able to make the most of your visit.

If at all possible, you should make arrangements to stay with a current student. Perhaps you have a friend, or a friend of a friend who is a student. Doing this will allow you to see the more informal side of the school and help you to meet current students.

Enjoy yourself and be open minded. This is a fun opportunity to start planning a very exciting next step in your life.

Please note that these are general recommendations and do not apply to every case. You can discuss your personal situation in more depth with your individual consultant.


© 2001-2005 Stacy Blackman Consulting. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with Permission by MBA ZoNe

GMAT Test Prep Biz on the Rise

"Applications are dropping, but the books and prep courses geared to the GMAT keep on coming..."
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Source: BusinessWeek

Get a Head Start with B-­School Admissions

by Stacy Blackman
Stacy Blackman Consulting

Many business schools do not publish their applications until fairly close to their first round deadlines. Despite the fact that you cannot dive in and begin writing essays or scheduling interviews until applications are posted, you still have an opportunity to plan ahead and positively impact your application now. If you are thinking about applying to business school several months or even a year before the applications are due, this document will help you find ways to begin taking action now.

Low GPA – Your GPA is an important piece of your application. Unfortunately, it is one of the only parts of the application that is already completely set. If you have a below average GPA, or low grades in quantitative/business classes, consider taking a course now to prove your academic skills. You want to be able to build a case to the schools that you will be able to succeed academically in their program, and and that you are taking steps to build skills that may have been lacking and that you are mature enough to balance academics with your career.

Career Progression - ­Have you been in the same job, at the same level for several years? If so, what would it take to secure a promotion or demonstrate upward mobility? If an official title change is out of the question, brainstorm what you can do to take on more senior responsibilities. Volunteer to mentor a newcomer to the office. Ask to be placed on a high level project. Take on a leadership role that no one else wants responsibility for. Opportunities always exist, but the true stars are the ones that seize them!

Many applicants consider taking a new job prior to applying in hopes that it will round out their experience and show progression. Be careful about this type of move. If it does not make sense in the context of your career goals, such a move could actually hurt you. You want to convey that you are focused and doing what you can to progress towards your stated goals, not just focused on landing a great job.

GMAT – The GMAT is a piece of the application over which you still have a great deal of control. If you have not taken the GMAT before, do your best to get it out of the way before you start working on writing your applications. As busy as you may be now, it will only be worse once you add essays, data forms and recommendations to your plate. Consider a course or private tutor. Preparation is essential for most to excel on the test, both in terms of knowledge and your mental state when you take it. Taking a course often helps you maintain discipline while studying.

If you have already taken the GMAT and received a below average score, consider retaking it. You should consider whether you truly gave it your all the first time around. If you think it would be possible to obtain a higher score, it is worth retaking, as the schools will look at your highest score.

Recommendations – Remember that you are going to ask a few recommenders to do a lot of work on your behalf. It is not a bad idea to keep in mind who you want to ask and be sure to “wow” them over the next few months. You may even want to take them to lunch and discuss your MBA plans with them so that they are not surprised when the time comes. You want to be certain that your recommenders will actively support your candidacy.

Extracurricular Activities – If you do not have any meaningful activities in your profile, you should become involved now. Even the most overworked individual can find time to do something. Go online and look for community service groups in your community, brainstorm things that you enjoy doing and seek them out. Think about activities that you participated in as an undergrad and become re­engaged. It’s great to be able to show continuity in your interests. If you are already involved know that the quality of your contributions is most important. It’s great to have been volunteering at a soup kitchen for the past year. But if you can say that you conceived of and led a program to grow donations or raise awareness of the soup kitchen, even better. In and out of work, any leadership role you can take on will be an asset to your application.

Many companies sponsor community service opportunities within. If you are too busy to leave the office, you may be able to find activities within your working environment.

Essays – It is extremely helpful to be aware of what types of questions you will be asked. Although many schools change their essay questions from year to year, by reading a prior year’s application, you will get a good idea of the types of stories you will need. Knowing that you will be asked to describe a leadership experience may motivate you take on a leadership role – in or outside of work. Knowing that you will have questions about community involvement will push you to finally become involved.

School Selection – You have a better chance of being admitted to any school if it is the right school for you. Many candidates look at rankings and decide to apply to the top few schools. You will be far better off if you do your own research, talk to students and alums and, if possible, visit campuses. Doing this type of research early on will help you to better understand the schools, and quite possibly change your mind about where you want to apply. You also will be better qualified to answer the question, “Why do you want to go here?” Demonstrating an understanding of what makes a school unique and showing that you are truly passionate about attending will take you far.

Please note that these are general recommendations and do not apply to every case. You can discuss your personal situation in more depth with your individual consultant.


© 2001-2005 Stacy Blackman Consulting. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with Permission by MBA ZoNe